Electric-wire connector.



No. 867,312. PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907.

v J. A. SHUTZ. ELECTRIC WIRE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 3, 1906,

UNIT D STATES PATENT Omen JOHN A. SHUTZ, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO MADISON L. KIRKMAN AND ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM H. WOOLLEY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC-'WIRE cormno'ron.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. Snorz, a citizen of the United States, residing in Richmond, in the county of Wayne and-State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Wire Connectors, of which the following specification is a full and accurate, exposition, being such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the same with absolute exactitude.

This invention contemplates the provision of an extremely simple and inexpensive coupling particularly applicable for detachably connecting the termini of wires or the like, and at same .time providing an absolutely positive electrical contact between the parts Some of the particular objects of this invention are, to provide an interchangeable two-part connector, in

which the members of the connector are identical with each other, in which. the members are easily coupled and uncoupled, which is not liable to become damand construction is visualized in the accompanying drawings, and the parts and combinations will be accen-- tuated and set forth in the appended claims.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the invention complete, with the members in operative engagement with each other. Fig. 2 shows the terminal members in operative engagement, with the retainingelement removed. Fig. 3'

shows the terminal elements separatedfor disengaged from each other. Fig. 4 shows a 'centrallongitudinal section of the invention. And Ih'g. 5 shows a detail of one of the terminal elements.

Like indices designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Y I

I will now take up a detail exposition of the several parts and will describe the construction and operation of the invention as briefly and as comprehensively as ,I may. I

Referring now to'the drawings forming a part of this specification: Numerals 1 and 2 designate the two terminal members of the invention. The terminal member 1 is round, in cross section, except at. its free endportion where a segmental portion forming a notch is cut away, by which segmental faces, a and b, are formed which are directed in same direction are parallel with each other and with the diameter of the member 1, each of said faces being superficially greater than is Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 3,1906. serial No. a 4aoe1.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.-

above I provide a segmental head d which is of less diameter'at its juncture with the body than it is at its outer end. In other words I provide a wedgeintegral with the member 1, the' base of the wedge being less than is its apex,

Identical with the above is the terminal element2,

round in cross section, except at its free end where a segmental portion forming a notch is cutaway by which two segmental faces, e and f, arc formed which faces are parallel with each other and with the diameter of the member 2, one face being located in advance of the other, each face being superficially greatecthan is onehalf of the superficial extent of'the member 2 if cutv in cross section,this by reason of the said faces being joined at an-angle'by a third rectangular face 9 formed at an angle longitudinally of the member 2, extending from the chord of the face e to the chord of the face f, substantially as shown. By reason of the above I provide a segmental head h which is of less diameter at its integral juncture with the member 2 than it is at its outer end. In other words I provide a wedge integral with the member 1, the base of the wedge being less than is its apex.

Extending into the outer ends of the members 1 and 2 aretwo-part apertures, as shown in Fig. 4, the innermost position of each of said apertures being of a diameter substantially the same as are the bared portions of the wires Al and B, and the outer portions of said apertures are of a diameter such as to receive said wires including the insulation or covering, all as shown in Fig.

4. The bared portion of said wires are tobe perma- Q terminal to be coupled has secured to it one of the coup ling members above described, and as the members are identical with each other. no selection need be made when attaching them to the wires.

The numeral 3 denotes a band or ferrule having an inside diameter the same, or infinitesimally greater, than is the outside diameter of the members 1 and 2, on which it is adapted to slide endwise.

It will now be seen that if the ferrule 3 be placed over one of the members 1 or 2 and moved out of the way to uncover the end portion of the member, that the members 1 and 2 may be brought together as in Fig.2, thereby contacting the faces a and c, b and f, and c and g, after which the ferrule 3 may be moved to the center of the combined members, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby locking the members i and 2 together, the wedgelike heads d and h prevent the members from being drawn apart, until the ferrule 3 is moved from around the joint, as in Fig. 2.

5 I have found that under certain conditions it will be advisable to give the faces 0 and 9 a spring contact with each other, which will also eventuate in retaining'the member 3 in position against inadvertent displacement, the means to accomplish the above I have shown 10 in the drawings.

The numerals .4 and 5 designate helical springs, each being seated in a barrel therefor formed in the respective heads I and h. The barrels for said springs being formed through the respective faces I) and e and in axial dir ctions inwardly to near the base of the respective he ds d and h as indicated in the drawings. Said springs are of a resiliency such that when no pressure is exerted against them that they will project out from the respective faces b and e as in Fig. 3, but when the members are coupled then said springs will be compressed within their barrels, with their free ends pressing against the respectiye faces a and f as indicated in Fig. 4.

Considering the above described invention as a whole I would call attention to the fact that I provide two coupling members identical with each other, thereby requiring only one pattern for their production, and when made in quantities any two of the coupling members may be coupled together. Also I would call attention to the fact that any two of the terminal members will interlock with each other and form aperfect electrical connection, as between the wires A and B. It 'should also be noticed that when the members are coupled then the wires, as the wires A and B, are in al'inement with each other, whereby if the wires be under "tension-the coupling device will at all times be parallel therewith, and will not become distorted by strain; and

also that increased strain on the wires will only tend to cause the members to engage the more tightly with each other, but at same time there will be no danger of the members becoming disengaged if the wires be slack.

I have herein shown and described the best means now known to me for carrying out the objects of my invention in a practical manner, but I desire to have it understood that various changes may bc'made in the details of construction within the limits of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages to which I am entitled.

Having now shown and described my invention in detail and the best manner for its construction and operation to me known, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. An electric wire connector comprising two terminal members each secured to the end of opposing wires, means for interlocking the members together, a spring seated in the end of each member and adapted to contact with the end of the opposite member, and a hand inclosing and holding together the interlocking portions of said 'memhers, all substantially as described.

2. A connector for electric wires or the like comprising two identical members connected tandem by interlocking.

to.tliis specification in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

JOHN A. SIIU'IZ.

Witnesses Wu. H. WooLLnY, M. L. KimnrAN. 

